New-look Beehag a resounding success

By Alexander Dabb

Dec 10, 2023

Flat out: The *ORSM* boat competes in the Beehag 100. Photos: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

Overcast skies and muggy conditions didn’t deter diehard supporters from making the trip out to watch the first running of the new-look Beehag.

Out in force: Lab Rats Racing supporters watch on from the halfway point at Wills Bend. Photo by Aidan Briggs

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Originally a 60km event, the Beehag was this year extended to a longer 100km race format. Boats completed a 50km leg from Torrumbarry to Wills Bend, before making the return trip.

Moama Water Sports Club president Steve Shipp was thrilled with the event, which ran without major incident.

Flying: The *Roughnutz* boat heads towards Wills Bend during the first leg of the Beehag 100. Photo by Aidan Briggs

“It went really well and the comments we got back from the competitors, they love the new format and they love the longer race,” Shipp said.

“It went good. There’s just always a couple of things you’ve got to do, but there was nothing major, so it all went through smoothly.”

Day out: Toby, 6, Leigh Wilkinson and Jasper, 5, watch the race from the finish line at Torrumbarry Weir. Photo by Aidan Briggs

A total of 94 boats took to the line for the new-look edition, which Shipp was overjoyed with considering it was the first Beehag of any distance since 2019.

However, he said there was always room to expand in future editions.

Winners: *Sapphire* crosses the finish line to take the overall win.

“Yeah, we certainly want to grow going forward,” he said.

“Some of the competitors I spoke to, a couple of them told me the same thing.

Like a bullet: *Hollow Point* speeds towards the finish. Photo by Aidan Briggs

“They thought that the Beehag was something that, if you’re serious about doing the (Southern) 80, you need to do the Beehag first so you’re in tune with the river, so that’s a very good plus for it.”

Hanging on: Skiers Trent Fennell and Harrison Phillips behind *Raw Deal*. Photo by Aidan Briggs

The race was won by Sapphire, the reigning Southern 80 champion, with driver Tim Pickford and observer Brian Griffin waving the flag for Echuca.

There were strong results for other locals across the board, according to Shipp.

“There were some good local teams to come through that went strongly,” he said.

Going hard: *Mad Case* during the first leg of the Beehag 100. Photo by Aidan Briggs

“We had Sapphire obviously winning it outright and a couple of other boats that frequent here like 99 Psycho Clowns (went strongly).

“Agrovation from Shepparton won the naturally aspirated class, which is a good local boat with local skiers from Mathoura.

High speed: The *Migraine* crew during the Beehag 100. Photo by Aidan Briggs

“You’ve got Sportspage here, (owner Dean Johns) is on the committee as well, he went really well, so there was some really good results for some locals.”

Big result: Temper F1 claimed third overall, also taking out the unlimited inboard expert class.

Being the first edition of the race, Sapphire set a course record of 39:01 to win the race outright, ahead of Brimstone F1 in second (39:38), while third overall was Temper F1 (40:08), which also claimed the unlimited inboard expert class.

Nearly there: *Shattered Racing* skiers Riley Fogarty and Jake Clancy. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Double Duty (48:07) claimed the honours in the unlimited outboard expert class, while Elm St (42:48) was the fastest among the sportsman’s 100mph class.

Agrovation (42:18) beat out Sportspage (46:02) to win the naturally aspirated inboard class, while Avenger (46:40) proved too strong in the clubman’s class.

The SMOC expert category was won by Raptor (50:19), the under-18 expert class was taken out by White Lightning (54:02) and Shortcut Racing (48:43) nabbed the win in the under-16 expert category.

Floating: *Pure Enemy* makes its way to the finish. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Sapphire F2 was first across the line in the under-14 expert class (1:00:45), Migraine (49:21) was fastest in the invincibles category and Shooter Reloaded (53:40) won the 70mph expert class.

Cranky Missus (1:00:53) was the quickest boat in the 60mph expert, while Rapid Pulse (1:17:26) won the under-12 expert category.